the curly buddha bookshelf: your astrological self-knowledge toolkit
The Internet hosts a wealth of incredible information about astrology, let’s be clear about that. But SOMETIMES - sometimes you just want a good old fashioned, worn-between-the-leather, hold-it-in-your-hands book to guide you in the direction of astrological self-knowledge.
Thumbnail by @polarbearrs
The Internet hosts a wealth of incredible information about astrology, let’s be clear about that. But SOMETIMES - sometimes you just want a good old fashioned, worn-between-the-leather, hold-it-in-your-hands book to guide you in the direction of astrological self-knowledge.
The Taurean (and nerd) in me loves a tactile learning experience - there’s just something deeply mystical about the process of reading a book, flipping through its pages, and feeling the depth of knowledge being deposited into your pores.
Not to mention that books provide a degree of learned expertise, which is especially important in the Information Age when information can be so easily accessed - and misrepresented.
Below are some books that have helped me tremendously, along with some key things to be aware of depending on what you’re looking for :). Note that these focus on traditional Hellenistic (Western) astrological practices.
If you just can’t be bothered and technology is more your thing (though I’d strongly suggest trying both approaches and switching it up from time to time), check out my social accounts for plugs to Internet astro-folks I fangirl over (and learn a lot from).
the basics: beginning your astrological practice
The Power of Birthdays, Stars & Numbers:
The Complete Personology Reference Guide
By Saffi Crawford & Geraldine Sullivan
This is a CLASSIC. I “borrowed” this book from my Mom for the first time when I was in high school - 10+ years later, her copy remains on my living room bookshelf. :)
Crawford & Sullivan break down all 365 calendar days of the year, providing an astro profile of your birthday complete with compatible soul mate dates, your work & vocation identity, your “secret self”, and even a brief numerological profile. They also touch on more intermediate subjects like decans and fixed stars.
Best for:
- Establishing basic knowledge of the 12 signs
- Understanding your own astrological profile
- Parties/social events, sharing easily digestible & fun astrological info with the people in your life
The Compleat Astrologer
By Derek and Julia Parker
This technicolor science-minded reference book, originally published in 1971, contains “a history of more than 6,000 years, from the astrologer-priests of Babylon to modern interpreters of the Age of Aquarius. Aside from its stunning, psychedelic illustrations, this book covers a wide range of subjects, from planetary progressions to understanding astrology from different locations around the world.
Best for:
- Astronomy & physics enthusiasts (they go in-depth on planetary movements, the solar system, and measuring spatial positions)
- Fans of 70s-era artwork :)
The Only Astrology Book You’ll Ever Need
By Joanna Martine Woolfolk
This is another classic, and while I’m not sure I’d say this is the only astrology book you’ll ever need, it is an excellent one.
This text keeps it simple with info about your sun, moon, and rising signs, and provides guidance on how to build your own birth chart.
There’s also some cool stuff about astrology through history.
Best for:
- Nailing down the astro basics
- A quick reference guide as you build on concepts
The Astrologer’s Handbook
By Frances Sakoian & Louis S. Acker
This book does an amazing job of laying out certain topics - like planet exaltations, planetary aspects, and house placements. It has an in-depth glossary where you can find detailed descriptions of aspects between the inner and outer planets. Some of the descriptions use antiquated cultural references & language (the original version was published in 1973), but the overall message remains timely and relevant.
Best for:
- Learning planetary aspects
- Learning about the houses and how the signs function within and as rulers of them
You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance
By Chani Nicholas
Chani Nicholas is one of modern astrology’s community darlings, and her new book sets a great foundation for understanding astrology on an intuitive level. One thing I love about the way Chani talks about astrology is her emphasis on the ruler of the ascendant as a primary launching point for one’s understanding of their chart. This is a great place to start for a well-rounded astrological practice.
Best for:
- Foundational knowledge of astrology using traditional Hellenistic principles
- Understanding astrology from a holistic perspective
Intermediate study: building upon your foundations
Chart Your Own Horoscope: For Beginner & Professional
By Ursula Lewis
Okay, so this book says it’s for beginners and professionals - but it’s a pretty sophisticated text that may be too nuanced for those just beginning their astrological practice.
I tried finding out more about Lewis because this book is really an amazing tapestry of detailed astro info: signs in the houses, chart distribution patterns, house rulership, and more. Apparently she was a German astrologer but was cited in the Astrological Pioneers of America reference text, written in the 80s. There’s not a lot out there about her on the Internet. If you know anything about her, holla at me.
The most impressive thing about this book imo is the STEP-BY-STEP how-to guides on drawing your own chart. These go in depth.
Best for:
- Professional astrologers, purists, aspiring witches or those who simply have an inherent distrust of tech - learn how to literally draw your own birth chart from scratch
- Fans of geometry & analytical problem-solving
- Getting into the nitty-gritty
advanced astrological exploration
The Astrology of Personality
By Dane Rudhyar
A quote from the 1991 re-edition of this text speaks loudly: “[this is] the pivotal book that launched humanistic astrology and made it clear that astrology was a subject for intelligent and perceptive minds, not merely for fortunetelling.
Dane Rudhyar is often considered one of the “Godfathers” of astrology; this book solidifies his position as such. Equal parts astrology and philosophy, his insights go deep. Prepare to be amazed.
Best for:
- Marrying philosophical and astrological insights
- Blowing your mind
Inside Degrees
By Ellias Lonsdale
This is part 2 of a 3-part book series entitled Inside Astrology - maybe I should recommend the first and last titles as well, Inside Planets and Inside Star Vision, because Lonsdale’s writing is just that immersive.
Lonsdale is not merely an astrologer - he is a philosopher with a poet’s spirit, supported by the Chandra and Sabian Symbols. His work is deeply emotional and evocative - honestly, everything he writes makes me cry, in a good way (or maybe that’s just my Cancer Mars talking).
At any rate, this book provides beautiful descriptions of all 30 degrees of each Sun sign. It presents a new way of thinking about astrology, free from cliches and overused phrasing. I highly recommend it.
Best for:
- Leveling up your practice
- Understanding the astrological degrees from a deep soul level
honorable mentions & subject-specific texts
Linda Goodman’s Love Signs
By Linda Goodman
This is a fun one. Linda Goodman is arguably one of the most iconic astrologers of the 20th century, and her Love Signs is a celebration of, well, love - she provides witty, easily digestible relationship profiles for all 12 signs and their cis het couplings.
Hopefully one day there will be a revival edition with LGBTQ+ combos.
Best for:
- Coffee table chat
- Quick reference for you and your lover
Cosmic Weather Report
By Ellias Lonsdale & Mark Borax
Lonsdale and Borax instantly draw you into their narrative regarding the Cult of Normalcy - which sounds menacing (and it is, when you consider the depths they’ve gone to in order to decompose and decolonize the systems of illusion that keep humanity locked in a virtual - and sometimes actual - cage).
Best for:
- Philosophical study
- Attaining personal breakthroughs
Healing Pluto Problems
By Donna Cunningham
I love this book! If you or someone you love has a particularly Plutonic birth chart (e.g., 1H Pluto, hard aspects between Sun-Pluto [such as the square or opposition], Moon in Scorpio, Pluto conjunct the Ascendant, etc…I should probably make a post on this…) then this book is for you. Control, power struggles, intense emotional responses, abuse, manipulation and other challenging subjects are explored here in detail, with an emphasis on transforming heavier negative energies into opportunities for self-transformation.
Best for:
- Plutonians and the people who love them
- Advanced study
Your Venus Sign: Your Heart's Signature
A philosophical journey into the 12 Venus signs.
Your birth chart is a physical imprint of your soul’s infinite destiny, expressed during this lifetime.
When we talk about your Venus sign, we’re talking about where the planet Venus was in the sky at the time of your birth.
Venus, the second planet in our solar system, is tied to notions of love, beauty, relationships, romance, based on the Western mythology of the Roman goddess, Venus.
Understanding Venus in your chart can help you decode:
how you operate in relationships
your attachment style
what inspires you on an emotional level
the kinds of relationships you gravitate towards
what motivates you in partnership(s)
your friendship style
what turns you off emotionally
how you function in social situations
the best ways to meet a partner or strengthen an existing relationship
Venusian energy by nature is ebullient and seductive. Venus tells us how we seduce others, and how we like to be seduced in return. But to be clear, we’re not talking strictly about sex or our sexual relationships with others - Venus’ seduction influences our platonic relationships, professional relationships, and the connections we make throughout our daily life, even with strangers.
Each Venus sign has its own flavor, its own spiritual signature written upon our souls. For instance, Venus in tender, watery Cancer can operate much differently than Venus in airy, intellectually-inclined and free-spirited Gemini.
The house where Venus lives in our chart can tell us which areas of life our Venusian energy comes into play more significantly.
Aspects between Venus and other planets in our chart can also tell us more specifically how our Venusian energy works with other aspects of our personality - harmonious aspects like the trine and sextile can indicate easier, more instinctual psychological and emotional acceptance of Venus’ energy in our life, whereas more discordant aspects like the square and opposition can make it more difficult for us to access Venusian energy when and where we need it.
Please note: I advocate for radical collaboration between the signs. Read more about what this means here.
Read on for descriptions of each of the 12 Venus signs.